Autocad 2016-tips-and-tricks-booklet-1

Lynn Allen’s
Tips and
Tricks
2016

TIPS AND TRICKS | 32 | TIPS AND TRICKS
User Interface User Interface
The updated modernized User Interface (UI)
in Autodesk®
AutoCAD®
2016 software is
easier to work with and reduces eye strain.
Start Tab
The Start tab (formerly the New tab) is filled
with information and speedy ways for you to
start new drawings or edit existing ones.
The Start tab contains two helpful sliding
content frames: Learn and Create.
The Create page makes it easy for you to
start a new drawing, access recent files, and
connect with Autodesk®
A360. Here you’ll
find various notifications as well as where to
download offline Help.
Use the icons at the bottom of the Recent
Documents list on the Create page to switch
from thumbnail to text view (or both).
.
The Learn page is filled with What’s New and
Getting Started videos, and online resources.
The Tip of the Day is updated every 24 hours
(so be sure to check them out to improve
your AutoCAD skills!)
Ctrl+Home or GOTOSTART gets you to the
Start tab quickly.
The Start tab can be turned on/off
for deployments.
User Interface
The plethora of
productivity tools
in AutoCAD 2016 is
certain to provide
a better design
experience for
everyone!

User InterfaceUser Interface
Use the Lock User Interface tool to check/
uncheck multiple UI elements at one time.
Click on the icon to quickly enable/disable
locking.
The Status bar will automatically wrap onto
two rows when the icons can’t fit into a
single row.
If you are new to AutoCAD, check out the
Hitchhiker’s Guide to AutoCAD Basics!
Status Bar
Populate the Status bar with the tools you
want by clicking on the three stacked lines
(the “hamburger”) in the lower-right corner
of the editor. Isolate Objects and Lock UI
options have been added.
Set STARTMODE to 0 if you don’t
want the Start tab to display.
Right-click on a file tab to access the Close
All Other Drawings option (or use the
CLOSEALLOTHER command).
Color Schemes
Have you been staring at AutoCAD all day?
Give your eyes a rest with the dark-themed
interface.
You can easily switch AutoCAD back
to the more traditional light theme by setting
the Color scheme control on the Display tab
of Options or by setting COLORTHEME to 1.
Help
Can’t find a tool? Click on the Find link in the
Help window and an animated arrow points
to its location in the Quick access toolbar,
ribbon, Status bar, and Application menu.

Workspaces
Workspaces are no longer displayed by de-
fault in the Quick Access toolbar. You can still
find them on the Status bar (who needs them
in two places anyway?).
the Classic Workspace has been
removed—time to get onboard with the
ribbon!
Galleries
The new block galleries make it easy to view
and insert blocks from your current drawing
directly from the ribbon.
You’ll also find helpful galleries for styles such
as dimensions, mleaders, text, tables, and
table cells.
Set GALLERYVIEW to 0 if you prefer
no galleries.
User Interface
Layouts
You’ll appreciate the layout preview thumb-
nails and the handy + symbol to quickly add
a new layout. For those of you who like to
heap on the layouts—you’ll like the overflow
menu for easy access to layouts that extend
to either side of the tabs. Drag and drop
layout tabs anywhere, including the overflow.
Do you prefer the layout tabs to display
above the Status bar? Use the new option in
the right-click menu.
Model Space Viewports
Model Space Viewports are easier to identify
and easier to resize. Simply drag the horizon-
tal or vertical viewport boundaries, or the
intersection, to resize them.
The + icon lets you easily
add more viewports …
just drag it to the proper
size.
You can join or remove a viewport by
dragging a boundary to the edge.
User Interface

Improved Graphics
Simply select the new “High quality
geometry” option in the Graphics
Performance dialog (easily found on the
Status bar).
Hardware acceleration must be
turned ON.
Set LINEFADING to 1 to automatically fade
geometry as you zoom into super-dense
drawings. Control the amount of fading with
LINEFADINGLEVEL.
Are you tired of the jagged diagonal lines in
AutoCAD? AutoCAD 2016 to the rescue! The
LINESMOOTHING variable smooths out lines
(including those with lineweights) and curves
at any zoom level.
If your hardware doesn’t support
High quality geometry (isn’t DirectX®
11-capable), try using the Smooth line display
for better graphics performance.
3D Orbit
Enjoy better control of the target point when
you turn off “Enable Orbit Auto Target” from
the 3D Orbit right-click menu. Then you can
click and hold the cursor to specify the pivot
point.
A small spherical icon will display to indicate
the pivot point.
Improved Graphics
Improved Graphics

We spend so much of our AutoCAD time
selecting and editing objects—check out
these handy additions:
Selecting Objects
When selecting objects, the geometry ap-
pears thicker and darker (or lighter, depend-
ing on your background color).
After you select objects, they change color
and remain thickened, so you are certain
you’ve selected the correct objects! (only if
hardware acceleration is on).
Don’t like the new highlight?
Set SELECTIONEFFECT to 0.
Customize the highlighting color on
the Selection tab of Options (Selection effect
color).
Moving objects will be clearer with the
faded deletion effect. Both Move and Copy
previews are super speedy!
Complex linetypes display true to form as you
draw and edit them.
Set COMPLEXLTPREVIEW to 0 to turn
this feature off.
Object Selection
Property preview performance is
vastly improved with large selection sets.
Lasso Selection
Click and drag your cursor to use the versatile
Lasso selection—click and release for the
traditional rectangular selection.
This behavior can be turned off on
the Selection tab of Options.
Hit the spacebar to cycle between window,
crossing and fence options.
Command Preview
Preview the results of so many editing com-
mands including Blend, Erase, Stretch, Rotate
and Scale.
The Command Preview control on
the Selection tab of Options enables/disables
this cool feature.
Geometric Center Object Snap
New object snap (GCE) finds the geometric
center of polygons and closed polylines.
A new glyph indicates geometric
center.
Object Selection
Object Selection

Productivity Improvements
Badges
AutoCAD 2016 has added handy, relevant
badges that provide you with contextual
feedback right next to the crosshairs during
selection, inquiring, and editing.
Set CURSORBADGE to 1 to turn off
the display of cursor badges (2 to turn them
back on).
The crosshairs have been removed
from the inside of the pickbox to make it
easier to see what you’re selecting.
System Variable Monitor
Tired of system variables being changed
without you knowing about it? Use the new
System Variable Monitor (SYSVARMONITOR)
to quickly identify system variables that no
longer conform to your standard.
Use the Modify option to create an additional
revision cloud and delete selected portions of
an existing revision cloud (put more than one
revision cloud together).
Set your preferred default with
REVCLOUDCREATEMODE
Set REVCLOUDGRIPS to Off to put
grips back to legacy behavior.
Isometric Drafting Environment
Use the Isodraft tool on the Status bar to
switch the snap style to Isometric and move
from one isometric plane to another.
AutoCAD 2016 has added many productivity
commands to help you get your designs
completed faster!
Revision Clouds
If you draw revision clouds, you’re going to
love the updated REVCLOUD that supports
rectangular, polygonal, and freehand (and
Object from the command line). The new
Revision clouds are easy to edit using grips
(no more stretched, elongated arcs!).

(including SHX) are fully supported. That
means that more text can be highlighted,
copied, and searched.
Export to DWF™ and Export to PDF options
have been split, and they each have their
own Export Options dialogs.
New PDF export options for
hyperlinks and bookmarks
have been added.
Use hyperlinks to link sheets, named
views, external websites, and files (or from
objects such as images, blocks, fields, etc.).
You set up the variables and their preferred
settings (although you’ll find some popular
defaults already prepopulated). Turn on
notifications to display at the command line,
on the Status bar icon, or even enable a
balloon notification should a variable on your
monitored system variable list be changed.
Xref Enhancements
Control the display of layers from xref draw-
ings (even if they’re not set to Bylayer in the
host drawing). Set XREFOVERRIDE to 1 and
xref objects will take on Bylayer behavior.
Xref layers no longer display in
Properties and are grayed out in the Layer drop-
down list (since you can’t pick them anyway!).
PDF enhancements
You’ll find the updated PDFs in AutoCAD
2016 are slimmer and faster! More font types
Layout names are automatically displayed as
page labels in the PDF file (much easier to
identify sheets!).
Four different predefined PDF options can be
found when plotting, so you can easily select
the one to suit your needs.

The Section Plane tool, which creates a
cutting plane through 3D objects, now works
on point clouds.
Choose between a simple cutting plane, a
slice (new), or a bounded or volumetric area
for your section object type.
The new contextual Section Plane tab is filled
with more section plane controls, including
a Live Section toggle, the ability to add jogs,
generate section blocks from solids, and
extract section lines from point clouds.
Slice generates a thin cut through the model
with parallel front and back section planes.
It has a thickness property (but no jogs
allowed!).
3D Modeling
Access Autodesk Recap or attach a ReCap
point cloud (RCP and RCS) from the Insert tab
on the ribbon.
Use the Attach Point Cloud dialog to select
the file, scale, insertion point, and rotation
angle (and to display valuable data about
your point cloud).
More and more people are incorporating
scans into their designs. Autodesk®
ReCapTM
software makes working with 3D laser scans
a breeze!
Autodesk ReCap
Use Autodesk ReCap to convert scan file
data from a variety of popular formats to a
high-speed point cloud that can be viewed
and edited in AutoCAD and other products
(including Autodesk®
Revit®
and Autodesk®
Inventor®
software).
Autodesk ReCap is a separate
application that is installed with AutoCAD
2016 (by default).
Reality Computing
Reality Computing3D Modeling

Section Planes
A new Section Plane
drop-down has been added
to the ribbon.
The initial size and
position of a section object
is based on the extents of
the visible 3D objects in the
drawing.
Reality Computing
The contextual ribbon will switch to a Point
Cloud tab when a point cloud is selected.
Display
Now you can increase the point size to visual-
ly fill in gaps. Use the Level of Detail slider to
set the density for all point clouds.
Use Options➙3D Modeling tab to
control the maximum points displayed on the
screen for your point clouds. AutoCAD 2016
supports up to 25 million points!
Use the new Extract Section Lines tool to
generate section lines from a point cloud
(when live sectioning is on).
Use the Preview result option to make
sure you get the desired results (Create can
take some time, depending on the number of
points analyzed!).
Point clouds now support transparency
(making it easier to see your geometry).
Reality Computing

Reality Computing
Dynamic UCS
The handy to use Dynamic UCS tool now
works on point clouds! Just make sure
Dynamic UCS is turned on and all the point
cloud object snaps are turned off. Pass your
cursor over a point cloud face and begin
drawing!
The point cloud must include
segmentation data (indicated in the
Properties Palette).
Point Cloud Object Snaps
Control the point cloud object snaps from the
3D Object Snap tab of Drafting Settings. New
osnap modes include Intersection, Edge, Cor-
ner, Perpendicular to Edge, and Centerline!
Be sure 3D Object Snap is displayed
on the Status bar for easy access to the point
cloud object snaps.
• Use the Intersection object snap to snap to
the apparent intersection of two lines of a
sectioned point cloud.
• Edge snaps to the edge of two intersecting
planes.
• Corner snaps to the corner of three
intersecting planes.
• Use Perpendicular to edge to draw
perpendicular to the edge of two
intersecting planes.
• Use Centerline to snap to the centerline of a
cylindrical shape.
Reality Computing

Cropping states maintain the boundary as
well as the visibility of scans and regions.
Use command
POINTCLOUDCROPSTATE to list
and delete crop states.
Point Cloud Manager
Use the Point Cloud Manager to work with
multiple point clouds. New to AutoCAD 2016:
On/Off buttons for scans and regions are
always displayed—names are truncated if
needed (but displayed in the tooltip).
Point Cloud Cropping
Use the Cropping panel (rectangular, polyg-
onal, or circular) to clip your point clouds.
You can continue to crop your point cloud by
changing the view.
Now you can save and restore named
cropping states.
Reality Computing
Double-click on a point cloud to view
the model from its scan position.
Annotation
Annotation is an important part of our
designs—check out these timesavers!
Text
Single line text remembers the last
justification setting!
Bullets and Numbering
Mtext now has automatic bullets or number-
ing. Begin a line with a symbol, number, or
letter followed by one of these symbols:
. , ) > } , ]—and then hit the spacebar to
create a bulleted or numbered list.
Click the lightning bolt icon for more options.
Use Backspace to remove automatic
bullets and numbering.
Annotation

Text Alignment
The TEXTALIGN command quickly aligns text
to existing text (or by selecting points). You
can easily control the spacing and alignment
direction.
Annotation
Transparent background
The transparent background in Mtext makes
it easy to see objects underneath.
Modify the height and width of columns at
the same time with the easy-to-use corner
resizer.
Modify them independently by using the
arrows on each edge.
AutoStack
It’s easier to AutoStack! Just put a forward
slash between numbers like 1/20.
Click on the lightning icon for other stack
options.
Smart Caps Lock
AutoCAD will automatically correct your text
(and turn Caps Lock off) if you accidentally
had Caps Lock on while you’re holding down
the Shift Key.
Match Text
Use the Match tool in the Text Editor ribbon
to apply properties of selected text within
any Mtext object.
You’ll find the Match tool is sticky!
(Use over and over again.)
Sub/Superscript
Highlight the text and use the Superscript/
Subscript tools on the ribbon.
Annotation

Smart Dimensioning
Let AutoCAD 2016 take the tedium out of
dimensioning! The updated DIM command is
smart enough to detect objects and provide
various visual dimension options.
You can even specify a default
dimensioning layer (only valid when using the
new DIM command).
Use the DIMLAYER command to create a new
layer for dimensioning.
Check out the horizontal, vertical and
aligned dimension previews when you select
a linear object—then simply place the desired
dimension. Or select another non-parallel
linear object to display and place an angular
dimension.
Annotation Annotation
Hover over a circle or arc and preview a
diameter or radial dimension—arcs come
with the additional option to create an
angular dimension.
The default values are automatically assumed
for the dimension text and angles resulting
in fewer steps (but you can still change them
from the right-click menu or command line).
If you attempt to create an overlapping
dimension you’ll see options to move, break
up, or replace the existing dimension.
And the DIM command remains active until
you exit the command, so you can knock out
multiple dimensions at one time.
Think of all the time you’ll save!
If you prefer to specify a type
of dimension, you’ll find the various
dimensioning options in the right-click menu.

Use the new width sizing control to
wrap dimension text! (One of the many AUGI
Wish List items granted!).
No more snapping to extension lines
by accident! Object snaps ignore extension
lines when creating dimensions (control this
behavior in Options).
Rendering
The new rendering engine in AutoCAD 2016
is simpler to use and yields better results.
You’ll find the updated Render panel
(Visualize ribbon tab) includes a Render to
Size drop-down list.
Select More Output Settings to access the
Render to Size Output Settings dialog. Here
you can specify the image size, resolution,
and format in easily understood terms.
Render Presets
Use the Render Presets list to control the
render quality (in levels) or how much time it
will take to render.
The tooltips provide more helpful
details.
The new Render Presets Manager is much
easier to use. Create, modify, and delete
custom render presets.
Specify Render in a window, current
viewport, or a specified region in the current
viewport. Specify the duration and accuracy
of the render.
Rendering
Rendering

Render Environments
Check out the new image-based lighting (IBL)
environments! In the Render Environment
and Exposure palette you can automatically
apply lighting effects and 360-degree back-
ground images.
The viewport or model needs to be
in perspective view and you must render in
order to orbit around the model.
You can also use a custom
background image (but they remain static).
Render Window
Save a snapshot, zoom while rendering, and
print the image in the new Render window.
Expand the window to view the render
history.
Rendering Rendering

Navisworks
Now you can attach coordination models to a
drawing! The Attach command and the Xref
Manager now have options for Autodesk®
Navisworks®
files (NWD or NWC).
You can also attach Navisworks files
using the new CMATTACH command.
The new Attach Coordination Model dialog
contains typical controls such as path type,
insertion point, etc.
Selecting the coordination model displays the
contextual ribbon tab with options to control
the display through fading.
To attach coordination models,
you need a 64-bit system and hardware
acceleration must be on.
Coordination Model Coordination Model
BIM 360
AutoCAD 2016 makes it easy to access
Autodesk®
BIM 360®
Glue™ software for
model sharing and clash detection. Attach
Access your BIM 360 Glue projects
directly from AutoCAD by signing into
A360 and selecting the project host.
Adjust the color and opacity fading on the
contextual ribbon tab.
AutoCAD 2016 automatically loads
the latest version of the attached BIM 360
Glue model.
single or merged models to your AutoCAD
drawings using the Attach tool on the BIM
360 ribbon tab.
Coordination Model

Autodesk Exchange Apps
Get direct access to downloadable
applications and content that can increase
your productivity. Simply click on the big X
on Infocenter.
Several valuable tools, such as the Featured
Apps ribbon tab, the Exchange App
Manager, and the SketchUp Import app are
automatically installed in AutoCAD 2016.
Security!
AutoCAD 2016 offers extra security controls
to help protect your drawings. Set Trusted
Locations folders to prevent unauthorized
execution of files such as scripts, AutoLISP®
files, or VBA applications.
You will find a variety of Security Options on
the System tab of Options.
Digital signature controls are
now accessible via the new DIGITALSIGN
command.
Single Service Pack
Now you can install Auto-
CAD service packs on any
AutoCAD 2016 vertical-based
product (no need to wait for
the integrated service pack
anymore!).
Autodesk Application
Manager
This desktop tool helps
you stay current with the
latest updates for all your
Autodesk applications.
The Autodesk®
Application
Manager will send you timely
messages about service
packs, hot fixes, and more.
The Application Manager seamlessly
downloads the files from the cloud and
installs them for you.
Added Extras Added Extras
Added Extras

A360
Settings Sync
Be sure to set up your cloud settings to
control when your design data and custom
settings are synced. Choose to automatically
store your design data each time you save, or
only when you specify.
Sync My Settings
We all set up AutoCAD to work the way
we like to work! Now you can save and
sync those settings with A360. Save your
program appearance, profiles, tool palettes,
customization files, Options, and support files
to A360 so you can restore them onto any
computer!
Choose Settings
Choose which settings you’d like A360 to
automatically sync.
Open Local Sync Folder
Opens the A360 folder your drawing is being
synced to.
Open A360 Drive
This tool takes you online to your stored
documents and folders via browser.
You’ll also find A360 access in many
of the Select File dialog boxes.
When you upload drawings from AutoCAD
to A360, external references and other
dependent files upload as well!
It’s all about the cloud, baby! Connect to
your secure A360 account for file sharing,
customization syncing, project management,
and more.
A360 Tab
Use the A360 tab for all things related to
your A360 account.
Share Document
Makes it easy to save and share your docu-
ment with others via A360. You provide the
email addresses and comments— A360 does
the rest!
A360 A360

Have you tried Autodesk®
AutoCAD®
360
web app yet? AutoCAD 360 lets you view,
edit, and share drawings through the web
or mobile device (take your drawings on the
road!).
Collaborate with others on the same drawing
in real time! Use the basic editing features to
mark up a drawing file. Use the Timeline tool
for a detailed design history.
Give AutoCAD 360 a try—did I mention it’s
free*?
Download the free* app for iOS mobile
devices at the App Store. Also available for
the Android.
It’s easily accessed from
inside AutoCAD via the
A360 tab, or visit www.
autocad360.com today!
AutoCAD 360 AutoCAD Subscription Options
AutoCAD 360
AutoCAD Subscription Options
Desktop Subscription
Enjoy access to the latest software releases,
technical support, flexible licensing, and a
variety of A360 cloud benefits.
Maintenance Subscription
Maximize the value of your perpetual license
with the latest upgrades, flexible licensing,
technical support, and access to select cloud
and software services.
Cloud Service Subscription
Extend your workflow to the cloud
for virtually infinite computing power,
collaboration tools, and access to your files
and software—almost anytime, anywhere.

TrustedDWG Technology AutoCAD Design Suite
AutoCAD Design Suite
Autodesk®
AutoCAD®
Design
Suite includes AutoCAD, plus
tools to help you capture
design information and
showcase your work:
• Autodesk®
AutoCAD®
Raster Design
• Autodesk®
Showcase®
• Autodesk®
3ds Max®
(Available in Premium)
• Autodesk®
Alias®
Design
(Available in Ultimate)
Not All “.dwg” Files Are
Created Equal
You’ve invested thousands, if not tens of
thousands, of dollars in developing your de-
signs. Help retain the integrity of your design
data throughout the review process with
TrustedDWG™ technology.
Built into AutoCAD, TrustedDWG is the
original and most accurate way to store and
share DWG™ files. TrustedDWG files are
created using a complete technology that
maintains each element in a drawing, and
the relationship between elements, with
data fidelity.
With over 30 years of technology wrapped
up in every TrustedDWG file, it helps you
preserve and protect your invaluable designs.
TrustedDWG Technology

3ds Max
(Available in Premium)
Create cinematic-quality 3D
visuals with animation, char-
acter, effects, and point-and-
shoot rendering and lighting
analysis tools.
AutoCAD Design Suite AutoCAD Design Suite
Alias Design
(Available in Ultimate)
Enjoy a range of sketching,
modeling, surfacing, and
visualization tools with
industrial design and Class-A
surfacing software.
Showcase
Quickly and easily transform
your AutoCAD designs into
compelling imagery, movies,
and interactive presentations
for design reviews and sales
pitches.
AutoCAD Raster
Design
Get more value from your
raster imagery (such as
scanned drawings, maps,
and aerial photos). Valuable
Raster to Vector Conversion
including Optical Character
Recognition (OCR) gives you
accurate results when you
create lines and polylines
from raster data.

Lynn Allen, Cadalyst columnist and worldwide Autodesk
Technical Evangelist, speaks to more than 30,000 users
each year. For the past 23 years she has written a column in
Cadalyst magazine called “Circles and Lines” and is the voice
behind Cadalyst’s “Tips and Tricks Tuesdays.” Lynn started
using AutoCAD software with Release 1.4, over 25 years ago,
and got her start by teaching at the corporate and collegiate
level for 12 years. A sought-after public speaker with a unique
comedic style, Lynn has served as the Autodesk University
host for more than 10 years and is always one of the
highest-rated speakers. Her latest book is entitled AutoCAD
Professional Tips and Techniques.
*Free Autodesk software and/or cloud-based services are subject to acceptance
of and compliance with the terms and conditions of the license agreement or
terms of service, as applicable, that accompany such software or cloud‑based
services.
Autodesk, AutoCAD, Autodesk Inventor, the Autodesk logo, AutoLISP, Alias,
AutoCAD 360, BIM 360, Glue, Inventor, Navisworks, ReCap, Revit, Showcase,
TrustedDWG, and 3ds Max are registered trademarks or trademarks of Autodesk,
Inc. and/or its subsidiaries and/or affiliates in the USA and/or other countries.
All other brand names, product names or trademarks belong to their respective
holders. Autodesk reserves the right to alter product and services offerings, and
specifications and pricing at any time without notice, and is not responsible
for typographical or graphical errors that may appear in this document.
© 2015 Autodesk, Inc. All rights reserved.

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